Coronavirus Watch: Declining life expectancy may be uniquely American

A new study shows that as some countries are demonstrating signs of recovery from declining life expectancy because of COVID-19, the United States continues to see its statistics in free-fall.

Based on data from 29 countries worldwide, seven countries in western Europe saw a significant increase in life expectancy in 2021, while the U.S. reported the third-largest decline in life expectancy behind only Bulgaria and Slovakia, according to the study.

Read more from reporter Adrianna Rodriguez here.

It's Monday, and this is Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network. Here's more news to know:

• Two men in Boston were charged with fraudulently obtained $3.5 million in federal pandemic relief funds and spent some of it to fund a “lavish lifestyle,” according to federal prosecutors.
• A CDC survey published Thursday found a majority of high school students reported a potentially traumatic event during the pandemic that may have contributed to poor mental health and suicidal behaviors. 
• The Biden administration extended the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration for the nation Thursday, expecting an uptick in cases of the virus during the winter months.

See our COVID-19 resource guide here. On boosters: 35.4% of Americans over 5 years old have received their first booster shot, and 11.5 million people have received a second booster dose, according to the CDC.

– Cady Stanton, Paste BN breaking news reporter, @cady_stanton

Contributing: The Associated Press